Respect of the rights of vegans and vegetarians

Why this is important

A lot of people in the world think that animals are sentient beings who shouldn't be killed unnecessarily and since it is not necessary to eat animal products millions of vegans and vegetarians refuse to eat animals or animal products. But their belief is rarely respected.

This is particularly visible in the almost systematic refusal to offer balanced vegan meals in public or private institutions, which may lead some to renounce to their beliefs or else be content with a nutritionally deficient diet. In France there is even a new law that forbids vegetarian meals: http://www.icdv.info/index.php?category/English . Some doctors learn almost nothing about nutrition and are unable to provide vegans and vegetarians accurate information. Some media have a mocking or critical attitude against “extremist" vegetarians, when mentioning any topic related to vegetarianism, instead of allowing any real debate of ideas. When someone says that s/he is a vegan or vegetarian for the sake of animal interests, this sometimes provokes unpleasant reactions, contempt and even aggressiveness.

http://tinyurl.com/ca4f3ym (sociological paper in english about vegaphobia)

According to Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, everyone has the right to freedom of thought and conscience. This includes the right to belief and the right to manifest one’s belief. Article 26 of the same Covenant states that discrimination based on opinion is prohibited. These two articles combined mean that vegans and vegetarians who refuse to consume animals or animal products for ethical reasons should not suffer discrimination because of their beliefs.

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Considering that the right to freedom of thought and conscience should be respected and that discrimination on the ground of belief is outlawed, the signatories ask the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief at the United Nations to present a recommendation concerning the rights of people refusing to eat animals or animal products, and promote the adoption of measures at the national, regional and international levels to ensure the promotion and protection of the following rights of vegans and vegetarians: the right to obtain balanced vegan meals in any public or private institutions, the right to impartial and appropriate medical information, the right to be provided with necessary resources to raise their children in accordance with their beliefs, the right to refuse any work contrary to their ethical beliefs.

Considering that the right to freedom of thought and conscience should be respected and that discrimination on the ground of belief is outlawed, the signatories ask the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief at the United Nations to present a recommendation concerning the rights of people refusing to eat animals or animal products, and promote the adoption of measures at the national, regional and international levels to ensure the promotion and protection of the following rights of vegans and vegetarians: the right to obtain balanced vegan meals in any public or private institutions, the right to impartial and appropriate medical information, the right to be provided with necessary resources to raise their children in accordance with their beliefs, the right to refuse any work contrary to their ethical beliefs.

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Considering that the right to freedom of thought and conscience should be respected and that discrimination on the ground of belief is outlawed, the signatories ask the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief at the United Nations to present a recommendation concerning the rights of people refusing to eat animals or animal products, and promote the adoption of measures at the national, regional and international levels to ensure the promotion and protection of the following rights of vegans and vegetarians: the right to obtain balanced vegan meals in any public or private institutions, the right to impartial and appropriate medical information, the right to be provided with necessary resources to raise their children in accordance with their beliefs, the right to refuse any work contrary to their ethical beliefs.

Enter your email address

Email

Name

Post code

City

I do not want Avaaz to inform me of the results of this campaign, or any other action in the future.

Considering that the right to freedom of thought and conscience should be respected and that discrimination on the ground of belief is outlawed, the signatories ask the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief at the United Nations to present a recommendation concerning the rights of people refusing to eat animals or animal products, and promote the adoption of measures at the national, regional and international levels to ensure the promotion and protection of the following rights of vegans and vegetarians: the right to obtain balanced vegan meals in any public or private institutions, the right to impartial and appropriate medical information, the right to be provided with necessary resources to raise their children in accordance with their beliefs, the right to refuse any work contrary to their ethical beliefs.

Name

Email

Postcode

City

I do not want Avaaz to inform me of the results of this campaign, or any other action in the future.